Paradise Team goes to ARMC

Some of our Paradise Team gathered at the Hallmark House Hotel to help bring the Africa Rising Music Conference to life this year. It was not only a big meet-up for ARMC, but also a coming together for our team! After the pandemic, it was the first time that our teams from different parts of the world met & worked on projects on site. Here is a little part of what we made and achieved:

PARADISE WORLDWIDE GATHERING

As we mentioned before, team members from all around the world collided in South Africa; and we want to highlight them all! Julio Galvez represented the US, and travelled all the way from New York. Julio spoke at panels in support of building bridges with Artists and DJ’s, as well as music professionals from Africa. If you were there, you probably know that he also played during our Welcome Bites & Drinks at The Living Room.

“ARMC was an incredible experience, as an industry professional but more importantly, as a fan of music. The knowledge and information exchange was beyond invaluable and as a result, we built bridges from New York to Johannesburg and everywhere in between. Can’t wait for next year!”, Julio said. 

From our Headquarters in Berlin we had Sarah Jane Nicholson, fire starter and founder of Africa Rising Music Conferece, along with Leonie Junge, who worked hand to hand in the Conference Artistic Planning; and finalising the Berlin Women Power team, one of our latest additions to the Paradise family, Leila Salinas, social media manager, representing Argentina and South America at ARMC.

“The gratitude received for creating a platform to connect and create exchange between artists and executives; between Africa and the World, all in the name of independence was the biggest win for me. This is ARMC!”, said Leonie after the Conference. 

Our CEO and Founder, Ralph Boege joined the ARMC; and completing the Berlin team we had Mike Kelly, label manager, who moderated in Panels both in ARMC and MTN Bushfire.

“ARMC was really great initiative and learning experience to be a part of. As a team member of Paradise Worldwide and a moderator in a few panels at the event, it was encouraging to hear the voices of industry leading African executives, artists and labels developing a conversation around the growth of the African Music industry. It highlighted how we can help connect the international music market with African countries to help develop sustainable and systematic growth from grass-roots level artists all the way up to the top end of the music business in Africa and around the world. It was inspiring to be a part of a strong female led initiative that I feel was felt amongst the Dutch Music Export delegation, the attendees in Johannesburg, and the panels that took place in Eswatini and the MTN Bushfire Artist Round Table.”, Mike said.

From a difrerent part of Germany, our Senior Label Manager Alex Flitsch joined ARMC. Alex is also the owner of Connaisseur Recordings, and he spoke during ARMC By Day 2, on how to create an independent label; and also spoke about Independent labels during the Arts Round Table at MTN Bushfire Festival.

ABOUT ARMC

Africa Rising Music Conference is a new, female led, executive-focused conference, with aims to revolutionize the developement of the African music industry, both within the continent and internationally. The conference was held in Johannesburg in May 2022. This year, the focused territory was The Netherlands, and along with the Dutch Music Export; we have taken to South Africa a delegation of artists and music industry people to speak at numerous panels, perform at ARMC By Night and MTN Bushfire & network with the local industry.

Besides the partnership with the Dutch Music Export, we secured collaborations with many of South Africa biggest industry names, such as Sampra, Samro, Flame Studios, Women in Music South Africa, The Indie Foundation, Audiomack, Nandos & more. Globally, ARMC partnered with Warm, and his CEO and Founder, Jesper Skibsby spoke at a panel about Radio Monetization. Mixmag’s Global Editorial Director, Nick DeCosemo, was present as well, and spoke at a special Keynote during ARMC By Day 2. “There is genuinely magic here”, DeCosemo said.

END OF PARTY – MTN BUSHFIRE

After two gratifying days of Conference, our team made its way to Eswatini to enjoy & be a part of the MTN Bushfire Festival. Some of the Paradise Team members spoke at the Arts Round Table Conference, held in the auditorium on the first day of the Festival; and then we all stayed to see the performances (some by our Delegation & the Dutch Music Export) & closed this experience with a big smile.

WHAT’S NEXT

Don’t miss out, our team is already on the preparation for the upcoming Africa Rising Music Conference 2023! We will announce dates, focus territory & more soon! To stay up to date, subscribe to the ARMC Newsletter with this link: https://africarisingmusicconference.com

Below, some pics of our team during Africa Rising Music Conference: